Coast Guard rescues man, dog from disabled sailboat near Hampton, Va

PORTSMOUTH, Va. — The Coast Guard rescued a man and his dog Wednesday after his sailboat became disabled in the northwest branch of the Back River approximately half a mile northwest of the Bell Isle Marina in Hampton.

The 41-foot sailboat was disabled, adrift and dragging its anchor.

Towboat U.S. notified Coast Guard Sector Hampton Roads watchstanders of the disabled sailboat at 10:15 p.m. Tuesday. Towboat U.S. reported that due to weather conditions, they could not safely approach the sailboat and requested additional assistance from Sector Hampton Roads.

Once on scene, the Coast Guard crew transferred the man and his dog from the 41-foot sailboat to their boat at approximately 2:00 a.m. Wednesday and took them to the Langley Air Force Base marina.

“This is a great example of how the Coast Guard and our partner agencies work together to assist mariners in need,” said Capt. John Little, the captain of the Port of Hampton Roads. “Partnership and team building are some of the primary objectives we’re building upon this week at our search and rescue forum in Hampton.”

There are no reports of injuries and Towboat U.S. is scheduled to salvage the sailboat.

A rescued dog is shown here aboard a Station Cape Charles 45-foot Response boat-Medium, March 6, 2013. The Station Cape Charles crew removed the man and his dog from a disabled 41-foot sailboat near Hampton, Va. Photo by Fireman Michael Quigley

A Coast Guard crewman shown here with a rescued man and his dog while aboard a Station Cape Charles 45-foot Response boat-Medium, March 6, 2013. The Station Cape Charles crew removed the man and his dog from a disabled 41-foot sailboat near Hampton, Va. Photo by Fireman Michael Quigley

A rescued dog is shown here aboard a Station Cape Charles 45-foot Response boat-Medium, March 6, 2013. The Station Cape Charles crew removed the man and his dog from a disabled 41-foot sailboat near Hampton, Va. Photo by Fireman Michael Quigley